Geir Pedersen, the UN’s special envoy for Syria, has warned that the conflict “has not ended” even after the ousting of Bashar al-Assad, highlighting clashes between Turkish-backed and Kurdish groups in the north.
Pedersen told the UN Security Council that there have been significant hostilities in the last two weeks, and a five-day ceasefire has now expired. He expressed serious concern about reports of military escalation, which could be catastrophic.
He also called for Israel to “cease all settlement activity in the occupied Syrian Golan” and emphasised the need for an inclusive political transition to secure economic support for reconstruction.
Pedersen has met with the new leadership of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which controls Damascus. HTS leader Ahmed al-Sharaa has said all rebel factions will be disbanded and fighters trained to join the defence ministry.
